Former President Donald Trump’s lies about a stolen 2020 election united right-wing supporters, conspiracy theorists and militants on Jan. 6, but the aftermath of the insurrection is roiling two of the most prominent far-right extremist groups at the U.S. Capitol that day. More than three dozen members and associates across...
Did Fresno Police Violate Press Freedom at Tower Protest? Experts Say Yes.
The city of Fresno and Fresno Police Department were determined to give protesters opposing and supporting the sale of the Tower Theatre to a conservative Christian church the ability to exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of speech while keeping them safe from verbal or physical altercations. But while...
What is a Proud Boy? Fresno Chapter Leader Gives His Take.
They've been called a hate group. White supremacists. Outside agitators. The Fresno community's frustration with the Proud Boys boiled over last week at the Tower Theatre protests. City Hall officials held a news conference to denounce the group. The local leader of the Proud Boys pushes back against those assessments,...
Tensions Rising, Fresno Police to Keep Proud Boys, Tower Protesters Separated
Opposing sides of the increasingly tense protests at Tower Theatre will be separated by barriers, city of Fresno and police officials said. Police Chief Paco Balderrama said the sides will be kept separate at the every-Sunday protest over the potential sale of the iconic Tower District venue. "We are there...
Dismissed Fresno Police Officer Fires Back
Rick Fitzgerald, hours after being told he was fired as a Fresno police officer, did not hold back on his thoughts about his now former employer. "It's ironic that I work for a police department where when I arrest people, they're innocent until proven guilty. But in this case, I...
Councilmember Renews Call for Separate Probe of Fresno Cop’s Proud Boy Ties
City Councilmember Miguel Arias has renewed his concerns about a Fresno police officer's alleged affiliation with a hate group. Social media watchdogs spotted the off-duty officer, Rick Fitzgerald, at a Tower Theatre protest last Sunday and tied him to other protests where he appeared to wear Proud Boys garb. The...
Is Fresno Police Officer a ‘Proud Boys’ Member? City is Investigating.
The Fresno Police Department is investigating whether one of its officers is affiliated with a hate group connected to the storming of the U.S. Capitol in January. The investigation follows allegations that the officer participated, while off-duty, in a counter-protest against groups opposing the sale of the Tower Theatre on...
Tensions Flare at Tower Theatre Protest as Sale Dispute Heads Back to Court
Tensions mounted Sunday at the recurring weekly protest at the Tower Theatre over the sale of the iconic Fresno venue. Police stepped in to warn opposing sides to simmer things down. Contrasting the music, colorful signs and dancing were opposing groups of agitators. Confrontations erupted, with face-offs escalating to exchanges...
Canada Designates The Proud Boys as A Terrorist Entity
TORONTO — The Canadian government designated the Proud Boys group as a terrorist entity on Wednesday, noting they played a pivotal role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The Proud Boys have faced increased scrutiny after seizing on the former Trump administration’s policies and was a...
FBI Alerts Fresno Sheriff to Domestic Terror Threats at State Capitol, No Direct Threats Locally
The FBI contacted the Fresno County Sheriff's Office on Monday to issue an alert about the potential threat of people targeting state Capitol buildings throughout the country. "They (FBI) just made us aware of that intel they had," says Fresno County Sheriff's spokesperson Tony Botti to GV Wire℠. "We're just...